Wash. Admin. Code § 44-14-00005
The act is complicated, and compliance requires training. Training on the act is required for local elected officials, statewide elected officials, persons appointed to fill vacancies in a local or statewide office, and public records officers. RCW 42.56.150; 42.56.152. Public records officers must also receive training on electronic records. RCW 42.56.152(5). All agency employees should receive basic training on public records compliance and records retention; public records officers should receive more intensive training. Agencies are encouraged to document training for persons required to receive training. The attorney general's office has training resources including sample training documentation forms available on its web site at http://www.atg.wa.gov/OpenGovernmentTraining.aspx. Training can be the difference between a satisfied requestor and expensive litigation. The courts can consider lack of training as a penalty factor in actions filed under RCW 42.56.550, the act's enforcement provision.1
| Note: | 1Yousoufian v. Office of Ron Sims, 168 Wn.2d 444, 229 P.3d 738 (2010). |
Wash. Admin. Code § 44-14-00005
Statutory Authority: 2005 c 483 § 4, RCW 42.17.348. 06-04-079, § 44-14-00005, filed 1/31/06, effective 3/3/06.